Public Policy In Chile Research Articles

Teachers’ Viewpoints on Educational Public Policy in Chile

RESUMEN El artículo busca responder cuáles son las principales políticas educativas identificadas por profesores durante los últimos 20 años en Chile, cómo han vivenciado los efectos en sus trayectorias docentes, qué características destacan. El estudio cualitativo sobre trayectorias docentes levanta categorías y subcategorías emergentes del discurso de los maestros para comprender cómo viven los procesos de reforma educativa. Los hallazgos muestran una caracterización situada en sus contextos escolares, identifican tres grandes procesos de política educativa: Reforma Educacional, Ley General de Educación y Desarrollo Profesional Docente. Por último, se ha observado que interpretan, adoptan y adaptan de manera idiosincrática dichas políticas.

The Impact of the Covid Pandemic Public Policies in Chile on Consumption

Using survey data, I simulate the counterfactual impact of the Chilean policies during the pandemic on household consumption. I find that aggregate consumption would have fallen by 16.7 percent in the absence of public transfers and a quarantine flexibilization policy. Consumption would still fall by 10.2 percent with a quarantine flexibilization policy but without public transfers. Overall, with a quarantine flexibilization and all the public transfers combined, household consumption was still 6.2 percent below its pre-pandemic period. Relative to a scenario with quarantine flexibilization but without income transfers, I find that the income, tax, monetary policy, expenses measures were the most progressive policies and increased total consumption by 2.2 percent, while the debt deferral and pension withdrawals increased consumption by 0.7 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively. The policies’ impact is highly heterogeneous, with 21.5 percent of the households increasing their individual consumption relative to its pre-pandemic level.

Addressing the food, nutrition and environmental nexus: The role of socio-economic status in the nutritional and environmental sustainability dimensions of dietary patterns in Chile

The effects of climate change and water scarcity on food security in Latin America and the prevalence of metabolic risk factors that increase the likelihood of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Chilean citizens are considered two significant challenges. The 2020 Sustainable Development Goals Report shows that an increasing number of people are suffering from food insecurity, and the growing stress on the environment associated with food production and resource exploitation. Therefore, the evaluation and monitoring of nutritional habits must be addressed because of their central role in meeting healthy and sustainable food goals. The objective of this study was to assess the environmental impacts (carbon and water footprint), nutritional quality and cost of diets of different socio-economic subgroups in Chile, mapping environmental hotspots and food insecurity. It was found that higher income was associated with higher environmental burdens related to food choices and higher dietary costs. Carbon and water footprints ranged from 2.42 to 4.74 kg CO2eq·person−1·day−1 and 1683–3110 L·person−1·day−1 for the first and fifth quintile, respectively. Chilean residents in the highest socio-economic quintile consumed more meat and fewer starch-based products than those in the lowest quintile. Meat was the main contributor to the carbon (56%–59%) and water (40%–43%) footprints and the determining factor in the differences between income quintiles. Although current diets in Chile do not meet nutritional recommendations, diet quality also increased with socioeconomic status. These findings could serve as a reference to implement public policies in Chile, ensuring healthy eating and food security in the context of climate change and water scarcity.

Understanding the Association between Musical Sophistication and Well-Being in Music Students.

Quality of life and mental health are topics under discussion in the university environment that pose new educational challenges. Public policy in Chile establishes the need to track students who are starting university and who could find themselves at possible academic risk (Law 20. 903). These transition processes experienced by students therefore need to be guided to improve the students’ quality of life. Using a mixed design, the present study analyzes the association between musical sophistication (Ollen, 2006), students’ well-being, and the performance of first-year students training to be music teachers (n = 25). The Ollen Musical Sophistication questionnaire and the Spanish version of the PERMA-profiler, a questionnaire for assessing well-being, were applied. In order to obtain detailed information about learning processes and educational needs, seven interviews were conducted. Results indicate a negative correlation between musical sophistication on the one hand and negative emotions (anxiety and anger) and loneliness on the other. This is reflected in less consistent academic performance, difficulties in identity development, and reduced motivation to face new challenges besides musical learning. We concluded that knowledge and observation of students’ previous musical experience is crucial for understanding and supporting the educational transition process and well-being of student music teachers.

Repercussões ocupacionais em pessoas com doença renal crônica terminal que fazem hemodiálise: um marco na justiça ocupacional

Abstract Objective To know the occupational repercussions caused by hemodialysis treatment in people suffering from Terminal Chronic Kidney Disease and how public policies in Chile, specifically, Explicit Health Guarantees address the needs of this population. Method Environmental observation guidelines, field notes, and semi-structured interviews with users and professionals who work in the Hemodialysis Unit of the Hospital Base de Valdivia, Chile were used. In addition, a documentary analysis was carried out that included clinical guidelines and technical standards of the Hemodialysis Unit. Results The data were organized into 5 topics: Hospital Base Valdivia hemodialysis unit, Process of change and adaptation, Routines and habits, Roles and Sufficiency of public policies. Breaks in occupational histories, difficulties in the adaptation process and the need for a comprehensive approach that is not considered by public policies are evidenced. Conclusion The need for a multidisciplinary treatment is proposed that considers an accompaniment in the process of occupational adaptation, especially in the early stages after diagnosis in order to prevent the impact on the quality of life of this population, as well as the need to develop more studies on the subject.

Bibliographic review of socio economic effects of environmental noise for public policies in Chile

The Ministry of Environment of Chile is currently updating the public policies that regulate noise mainly from industrial sources. For this reason, a background record of studies that describe the benefits and socioeconomic effects of noise in the population is needed. Through a bibliographic review it was possible to identify a variety of benefits and effects in the economy, health and social ambit, as well as new investigation lines that take in consideration the mental health and non favorable socioeconomic conditions (economic inequality, racial and ethnic problems). The different works analyzed include the recent systematic reviews for the elaboration of the "Environmental noise guidelines for the European Region" of the World Health Organization, a series of works mainly of European origin and two Latin American economic studies. Finally, due to the low regulation in Latin American countries regarding noise, it is possible that these problems are greater than those reported in developed countries and therefore their study is of interest to create or apply other public policies in the region to a greater extent.

Contribution of energy efficiency standards to life-cycle carbon footprint reduction in public buildings in Chile

Public policy in Chile proposes reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. Regarding the construction sector, the application of energy efficiency standards in public buildings has been encouraged. However, the contribution of these standards to life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction still remains unknown. This study aims to determine the impact of implementing the Standardized Reference Terms of Energy Efficiency (TDRe for its Spanish acronym) on the reduction of the Carbon Footprint (hereafter CF) during the life cycle of public buildings. To that end, a theoretical calculation and analysis of the CF of four case studies is performed comprising the construction and use phases of their life cycle. The inclusion of the construction phase allows understanding the actual implications of implementing TDRe in buildings. The results show that TDRe can reduce the use phase CF of the case studies in 82%, in contrast with the increase of the construction phase CF in 14%. Such increase is mostly associated to construction materials of the thermal envelope and the type of fuel used for heating. This leads to conclude that limiting the energy demand of buildings from the design phase is not enough to reduce the building’s entire life cycle CF, and therefore a life-cycle approach that considers the aforementioned elements must be applied in the analysis in order to produce eco-efficient buildings.

Actores en procesos de transferencia de políticas sociales en América Latina

En esta nota de investigación se aborda el rol de los actores en los procesos de formulación de políticas sociales y en su transferencia entre países de América Latina. El diverso grupo de actores que es posible identificar en la literatura incentiva a ajustar la discusión sobre algunas de sus particularidades: carácter individual o colectivo, rol técnico o político. A través de este ejercicio se perfilan futuras líneas de trabajo y una nomenclatura —tecnócrata social—, las que aportan tanto a la literatura acerca de políticas públicas en Chile como a los estudios respecto de la transferencia y la difusión de políticas en América Latina.

Social integration and its relationship with functional limitations in Chilean older adults

Abstract We are experiencing the highest levels of life expectancy and it poses challenges in the maintenance of the functional capacity in old age. This study seeks to determine the relation between social integration and functional limitation in Chilean older adults. Cross-sectional study with baseline of two cohort studies: the SABE cohort (born before 1940) and the Alexandros cohort (born between 1940 and 1948 from Primary Health Care centers), from Santiago. Were considered 1733 elderly. Performance variables were studied in seven Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL): preparing food, managing money, leaving home alone, making purchases, making or receiving calls, doing light housework, organizing and taking medications, and six basic Activities of Daily Living (ADL): bathing, dressing, use of the bathroom, transfer, continence of urine and feeding. Having difficulties or inability to perform at least one activity was classified as having functional limitations. Social integration variables were: participation in community groups, clubs or organizations and in recreational activities. Adjustment variables were: sex, age, educational level, household income, depression, cognitive impairment and multimorbidity. Robust Poisson Regression was performed and prevalence ratios (PR) of functional limitation in ADL and IADL were reported. The level of significance was ≤0.5. Prevalence of functional limitations in ADL was 73.3% and in AIVD was 37.1%. Who participated in recreational activities have a lower prevalence of functional limitation in ADL (PR 0.85; 95%CI 0.80-0.90) and in IADL (PR 0.74; 95% CI0.63-0.86). Participation in community groups, clubs or organizations was associated with a lower prevalence of limitation in ADL (RP 0.78; 95%CI 0.71-0.87), although it was not significantly related to performance in IADL. Greater social integration in adulthood is a protective factor for limitation in ADL and IADL and should be the subject of public policies in Chile. Key messages Social integration seems to be a protective factor for functional limitation in Chilean older adults. Society and public policies should give greater opportunity for the elderly to participate in recreational activities and community groups.

Special educational needs: Do we know how to educate?

This article reports the results that its objective is to analyze the evolution of political discourse in Chile on special educational needs, as well as to analyze the relationship of the discourse with the main public policy initiatives regarding legislation, fiscal budget and direct executive action. It can be seen that it is possible to identify important changes in the use of the main concepts, emphasis and discussions associated with the promotion of inclusive education. In addition, there is growing interest in the issue of diversity, both nationally and internationally, which is expressed in increasingly specific public policy initiatives to promote inclusive education. However, there are still gaps and gaps between political discourse and policy initiatives, as well as between the approach of public policies in Chile and the state of art of the international discussion on the subject.

Low indicators of personal and social development in Chilean schools are associated with unimproved academic performance: A national study

The objective of the present study was to determine the association of academic performance with personal and social development indicators in Chilean schools from the results of the 2016 national education study and to determine the relationship of these results with the schools’ socioeconomic background. The results from 2891 schools that participated in the 2016 national education study were analyzed. This examination considered academic performance (2016 vs 2015) and personal and social development indicators. The indicators with values ≤ 70 were associated with unimproved academic performance (i.e., maintained or decreased). Moreover, the indicators had a greater correlation with academic performance on low/middle-low socioeconomic background Schools. This finding may be useful in the discussion and implementation of public policies in Chile.

Teaching indigenous languages in Chile: perceptions of Traditional Educators

ABSTRACT Intercultural Bilingual Education has been public policy in Chile for more than 20 years. One of its key components is the emergence of the Traditional Educator, an indigenous person with the linguistic and cultural competencies necessary for teaching an indigenous language in a school context. Hence, this research is directed towards examining the perceptions of Traditional Educators regarding the teaching of indigenous languages. The contents of relevant documents and interviews with Traditional Educators from three groups of indigenous peoples (Mapuche, Aymara and Lican Antay) who participated in the study were analyzed using a qualitative methodology. Using the Critical Language Policies approach, the results were organized into three categories: (a) perceptions of Traditional Educators regarding the Intercultural Bilingual Education Program, (b) the relationship of Traditional Educators with other participants in the school system, and (c) teaching strategies declared by Traditional Educators for teaching in the Indigenous Language Class (Sector Lengua Indígena). We concluded that the work of Traditional Educators within schools is isolated and lacks the support of local communities and the Intercultural Bilingual Education Program.

Mapuche political, educational and linguistic demands and public policy in Chile

This article examines from a historical and contemporary perspective the political, educational and linguistic demands of Mapuche intellectuals and organisations and how they have been addressed by public policy in Chile. In particular, the article focuses on the Araucanía Region, part of the ancestral territory of the Mapuche people. We adopt a documentary and ethnographic approach to analyse the context, the development and the transformation of Mapuche demands in a political environment influenced and exacerbated by certain actions by both the state and indigenous organisations. The analysis focuses on education and the tensions generated under Chile’s neoliberal economic model, affecting the decisions and everyday lives of families and children, especially indigenous families, in the Araucanía Region.

Educación Médica Intercultural: Desafíos de la Atención Médica en Contextos de Población Inmigrante

Objetivo. El estudio explora en las percepciones de médicos sobre los desafíos de formación intercultural para la atención de diversidad migrante en la región metropolitana. Método. Estudio cualitativo, diseño flexible, mediante entrevistas en profundidad. La saturación determino el tamaño de la muestra no representativa en 13 médicos. Resultados. Los discursos muestran tres ejes de análisis: percepción acerca del paciente inmigrante, formación intercultural y los desafíos de la atención inmigrante, y propuestas a la formación intercultural. Conclusiones. El estudio entrega evidencia sobre la necesidad de formación médica intercultural, una importante política pública en Chile que tensiona el modelo de Educación Médica.

Is aging a problem?: Dependency, long-term care, and public policies in Chile.

ABSTRACTChile is facing changes associated with the demographic transition. So far, these challenges have been framed as age related. This has contributed to approaching a broad set of issues from a narrow perspective. The focus on aging has fragmented a multidisciplinary problem into different parts—particularly health and social policies—with different actors dealing with it from the perspective of their own sector. This process has generated an incomplete picture, preventing the definition and measurement of dependency and long-term care, and hindering a coordinated response to these issues. This article advocates for a change in the definition of the problem, by adopting the concept of long-term care, in order to gain a deeper and more comprehensive perspective on the issues arising from the situation that Chile is experiencing.

Equidad, Justicia y Reconocimiento en el Trabajo de los Profesores/as de Escuelas Vulnerables Chilenas

In this article we argue that Chilean public policies understand equity as equal opportunity, and justice as individual social mobility. The organization of work around this understanding of equity is about management and promotes "success and quality for all." As a result we see that this promise is not fulfilled in vulnerable sectors and exposes teachers to lack of recognition of their work and influences their relationship with students as well as their mental health. This research is done with a clinical sociology approach. We conclude that it is necessary to change public policies in Chile to a notion of equity to social justice that will transform public policy and management practices of schools. 
 Keywords: Recognition at work, equity, teachers, social justice

Creating inequality in accessibility: The relationships between public transport and social housing policy in deprived areas of Santiago de Chile

This paper identifies the very limited connectivity provided by the current public transport system to the most deprived groups of Santiago de Chile, and explores the territorial aspects of transport and social housing policies that have contributed to the creation of unequal public transport schemes. To achieve those aims, we present a review of public policies in Chile and the results of an original quantitative analysis that measures the travel times required to access the opportunities and activities located in the city. The results show that housing policies put people at a disadvantage by increasing the distance between them and the opportunities of the city. Three decades after the implementation of housing policies, transport still fails to mitigate these distances and instead of alleviating the patterns of segregation, it may have reinforced them. The travel times required increase towards the periphery (even though densities do not decrease) and are higher than the averages of the city in social housing estates.

El uso de dispositivos móviles por niños: entre el consumo y el cuidado familiar

Este artículo presenta los resultados de una investigación orientada a la comprensión de los intereses, expectativas y conflictos sociales que surgen en torno al uso de tecnologías móviles por parte de niños. Desde un enfoque crítico, se entiende la tecnología como una instrumentalización de intereses sociales en disputa: por una parte, los intereses dominantes que el mercado y el consumo establecen y, por otra, las expectativas familiares en torno a la comunicación y el cuidado familiar. Durante el año 2015 se desarrolló un estudio de casos a partir de la vinculación con estudiantes y apoderados de un curso de Cuarto básico de una escuela municipal de la ciudad de Temuco, Chile, y en el cual se implementaron grupos de discusión, entrevistas en profundidad y otras técnicas de investigación adaptadas al trabajo con niños. El análisis se orientó hacia la comprensión de las experiencias de uso, normas sociales, cambios, conflictos y expectativas familiares asociados con los dispositivos móviles. Se concluye reflexionando sobre la relevancia que la comprensión de fenómenos tecnológicos tiene para el trabajo social, en este caso, especialmente para el trabajo con familias, y se desarrollan propuestas generales de política pública adaptadas al caso chileno.

Interfaz ciencia-políticas públicas en Chile: una mirada a la investigación en cambio climático

En las últimas décadas, se han observado importantes cambios en torno a la relación entre la ciencia y la sociedad. Se ha transitado de un paradigma basado en que la ciencia está transformando la sociedad a otro que abre a la posibilidad de que la sociedad transforme la ciencia. El aporte de la esfera científica, al igual que el brindado por cada uno de los actores sociales, es fundamental para apoyar la toma de decisiones en política pública. Así lo ha demostrado el Panel Intergubernamental de Expertos sobre Cambio Climático (IPCC), que ha jugado un rol clave en la toma de acciones de la comunidad internacional. Sin embargo, la relación entre ciencia y política no ha sido suficientemente fluida en Chile. El objetivo del estudio fue identificar y analizar, a través de metodología cualitativa de carácter exploratorio, las brechas y los facilitadores de la relación entre investigadores del campo de las ciencias naturales y las políticas públicas en Chile, con énfasis en el área del cambio climático. Esto permitió analizar la estructura y la dinámica de incentivos a la actividad de las esferas científica y pública, y los mecanismos de comunicación y coordinación existentes entre ellas. Así, se identificaron ocho brechas y dos facilitadores. Resaltan el bajo interés de la esfera científica en realizar “asesorías” solicitadas por servicios públicos que generan políticas públicas, la falta de incentivos o exigencias académicas para simplificar contenidos, así como la falta de comunicación y de interacción regular que generan una diferencia entre lo que la esfera político-administrativa espera de los científicos y la forma en que estos últimos ven como efectiva y útil su participación. Además, se observaron fallas de coordinación entre quien financia la investigación y quien genera la política pública. Los resultados también muestran que las brechas entre las esferas no se reducen únicamente al campo del cambio climático, sino que se deben también a la manera como están conformadas las estructuras científicas y políticas de Chile.

Consideraciones para un Programa de Desarrollo Profesional que orienta al profesor a re-conceptualizar su enseñanza -Considerations for a Professional Development Program that instructs teachers to re-conceptualize their teaching

Las demandas por una enseñanza de calidad ponen el acento indiscutiblemente en el rol del profesor, por lo tanto, se debe contribuir a su desarrollo a partir de programas que se focalicen en los requerimientos y necesidades profesionales que exige una enseñanza de calidad. En ese marco, un sistema de desarrollo profesional que enfatiza en la actualización y perfeccionamiento del profesor sobre la disciplina y las técnicas de enseñanza como lo plantea la política pública en Chile, quizás, no sea la solución plausible para promover una enseñanza de calidad por la racionalidad técnica que lo orienta. El artículo busca aportar a la discusión sobre el conocimiento didáctico del contenido como un eje para el desarrollo profesional del profesor de biología por su alta incidencia en la enseñanza. Se presta atención a los aspectos implicados en el desarrollo profesional y al conocimiento didáctico como un requerimiento profesional necesario para la enseñanza. Se proponen algunas consideraciones para el diseño de un programa de desarrollo profesional que oriente al profesorado a cambiar su epistemología personal para una nueva conceptualización de la práctica pedagógica, entre ellas: (i) Trabajar con el profesorado desde sus preocupaciones profesionales en una plano cognitivo, contextual y situado, (ii) Promover una actividad de reflexión que favorezca el transito entre los dominios: personal, fuentes, práctico y de consecuencia de enseñanza y, (iii) Discutir teóricamente los nuevos cuestionamientos para enfrentar las dificultades de la enseñanza y re-estructurar el conocimiento didáctico del contenido del profesor.